New stage lights being installed in the museum’s auditorium

The Snake River Heritage Center (SRHC) is a non-profit organization located in Weiser’s Hooker Hall and allows visitors to embrace the rich history the area has to offer. Originally built as a school, the building offers a variety of rooms, displays, a ballroom, and more.
 The museum’s auditorium, a popular venue space, has received several updates and renovations, with SRHC board member Denise Rasmussen organizing a crowdfunding project to complete the installation of new stage lights.
 The building’s auditorium has been of special interest to Rasmussen. As a board member, she oversees the use of the auditorium and ballroom and manages the scheduling of both venues. Also the director of the Weiser Youth Symphony, she resources the auditorium regularly as a practice and performance space for the musicians, rehearsing nine months out of a year and holding three concerts annually.
 “It’s kind of become home,” said Rasmussen. “It’s been a special interest for my family.”
 Rasmussen said she has spent many long hours in the space and her family began renovation as Eagle Scout projects for two of her sons. Every project and renovation done has been based on need.
 Her older son began by refinishing the stage of the auditorium and extending it an additional four feet, allowing more room for the growing youth symphony, and recently her younger son redid the carpet. Local donations allowed for the replacement of the carpet.
 The auditorium has also been equipped with new window coverings, the installation of which was another Eagle Scout project. Benches were reupholstered by local business owner Casey Hoskins, owner of the Creative Home. The lights that have already been installed provide different lighting colors and spotlights for theatrical use.
 “It made it not only more usable, [and] more enjoyable for an audience, but also it’s good to look at now,” said Rasmussen. “It’s just warm and inviting. We’ve really enjoyed it.”
 A consistent issue and an initial goal for those that utilize the auditorium has been to update the lighting and sound equipment. With an idea in mind of what the space needed, the board applied for a grant to the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and received a generous donation dedicated to the lighting and sound project.
 With $20,000 donated from the grant, the majority of the lighting project has been completed. However, eight more lights need to be installed directly above the stage for the project to be totally finished.
 “We have big visions of bringing in cultural events to this town,” said Rasmussen. “Performers and people that could really enjoy our space, and I think community members would like that, too.”
 Total cost of the finalization is approximated at $5,000 and will be installed above the stage, extending past the wall and the curtains. The equipment will be able to angle down to the stage, allowing for proper lighting at the end of the stage. The initial grant funds were utilized for the largest part of the project, with the final step still awaiting completion.
 “We’ve lived a lot of hours in that room,” said Rasmussen. “So, it’s special to us.”
 To donate to the crowdfunding campaign, individuals are welcome to mail a check to the museum at P.O. Box 307 or donate at PayPal at https://paypal.me/pools/c/8wQS8EBb66.
 “We have this gem. We have this wonderful building that has so much potential that if we finish this project, we will be able to entice others to come,” said Rasmussen. “I just think it opens up an opportunity.”